Evening in the Forest
The sun cast its last golden rays across the forest as Kenzo pushed himself to his limits.
"998, 999..." he muttered through gritted teeth, his arms trembling from exhaustion. Sweat dripped from his brow, but he refused to let his hands touch the ground.
As fatigue threatened to overtake him, a flash of memory struck.
"People like you are trash... trash... trash..."
Kenzo's eyes snapped open, his resolve reignited.
"No giving up!" he said firmly, forcing himself back up.
He rose to his feet, steadied his breathing, and began his journey out of the forest, determination etched into every step.
---
Zephyros Kingdom – The Palace
Outside the grand palace of the Zephyros Kingdom, a young girl stood nervously, her fingers lightly touching her chest as if trying to steady her heart.
"Where is Kenzo?" she whispered to herself, her eyes scanning the horizon.
Her name was Ayame Mizushima, princess of the Zephyros Kingdom and a member of the Mizushima clan, renowned for their water magic. At twelve years old, Ayame was not only skilled in water magic but was also training in healing arts.
A voice broke her thoughts.
"Princess Ayame, why are you out here?"
Ayame turned to see Sarina, a loyal servant who was more like an elder sister to her.
"Oh, Sarina! I'm waiting for Kenzo," Ayame replied with a faint smile.
Sarina raised an eyebrow. "Your choice, Princess," she said before walking toward the palace garden. She paused, however, and returned to Ayame's side.
"Princess, may I ask you something?"
"Of course," Ayame said gently.
"Why did Kenzo come home late last time? Do you think he'll be here after the king's injury?"
Ayame hesitated. "I think... this moment was unknown." Her words trailed off as the palace doors creaked open.
Her eyes widened. "Big Sister!"
---
Ayaka Mizushima Enters
Ayaka Mizushima, the eldest princess at nineteen, strode forward, her presence commanding. Like Ayame, she wielded water magic but carried herself with an air of superiority.
"Is this your daily routine, waiting around for trash?" Ayaka sneered.
"Don't call him trash!" Ayame snapped, her voice sharp with anger.
"Oh, you're mad? How touching," Ayaka mocked. "But have you forgotten? Kenzo is the reason Grandfather is bedridden."
Ayame tensed, her fists clenching. "Kenzo… this isn't his fault."
"Your choice, your responsibility," Ayaka said dismissively as she turned to leave.
---
Kenzo's Night in the Forest
As the stars began to glitter above, Kenzo sat by a small fire, roasting fish he had caught and preparing mushrooms he carefully identified as safe.
"Almost done," he murmured, turning the fish over the flames.
Once the meal was ready, he ate quietly, savoring the simple food. "Awesome," he said to himself with a small smile.
After extinguishing the fire, he began walking toward the palace. On the way, a fruit fell from a tree. Kenzo caught it mid-air, ate it quickly, and pressed on.
---
Inside the Palace
Ayame stood near the palace gates, her eyes fixed on the road.
"Please, Princess, come and eat something," Sarina urged gently.
"But…" Ayame hesitated.
"Please," Sarina insisted.
Reluctantly, Ayame followed her to the dining hall and sat at the table with her family.
"Princess, why do you always stand by the gate?" asked King Azyion Mizushima, the ruler of Zephyros Kingdom and Ayame's father.
"I'm waiting for Kenzo," she said simply.
The king sighed. Prince Rioz Mizushima, Ayame's arrogant brother, snickered.
"Why bother? He's probably somewhere worthless," Rioz said.
"Not a chance," Prince Ardyn Mizushima, another sibling, added with a smirk. "Kenzo's nothing but a magicless fool."
Ayaka laughed. The king, unbothered, continued eating until he noticed Ayame's expression.
Her anger was palpable. The table shook slightly.
"Hey, Ayano, it's dangerous," someone murmured, but Ayano Mizushima, Ayame's twin sister with ice magic, remained stoic, eating calmly.
"Enough, all of you!" Ayame shouted, silencing the room.
The palace gates swung open.
"I'm home," Kenzo announced, stepping inside.
Ayame's expression softened. "Oh, Kenzo…"
Rioz muttered under his breath, "Idiot's back."
"Come eat something," the king offered.
"Thanks, but I already ate," Kenzo replied, heading to his room.
Ayame watched him go, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
---
The Academy – The Next Day
The next morning, everyone flew toward the academy. Everyone except Kenzo, who walked alongside Ayame.
Rioz chuckled. "Still grounded, huh?"
Ayaka smirked. "At least he has Ayame to keep him company."
"Don't listen to them," Ayame said softly.
Kenzo nodded. "Thank you, Princess."
At the academy, their teacher announced the next day's adventure class—a chance to explore the forest.
As Kenzo sat on a bench, staring out the window, whispers filled the air.
"Trash," some boys muttered.
Kenzo clenched his fists. I'll show them, he thought.
"Kenzo!" a cheerful voice called.
Kenzo turned to see Yuto, his best friend.
"I'm so excited for tomorrow!" Yuto said brightly.
Kenzo smiled. "Me too."
---
Later That Night
As the moon rose high, Kenzo trained with Yuto in the woods. After a sparring session, Yuto patted Kenzo on the back.
"You're stronger than you think," Yuto said.
Kenzo smiled faintly. "I want to be a mighty hero… but can I?"
"You already are," Yuto replied.
Later, as Kenzo lay in bed, his glowing index finger caught the faint light.
Tomorrow is just the beginning, he thought before sleep claimed him.
To be continued…